After 110-hours I have finally reached Part 3 in Cai’s path in Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave. I can’t get enough of this game—it’s truly an astounding achievement. And with the recent news of DLC, and an additional four character routes, I can’t wait to play even more. This might be one of the rare games where I can play endlessly without getting tired of it.

I have also started RE4 Remake on the Switch 2. It plays flawlessly in handheld, and is the perfect game to play during spooky season.

I’ll probably pick this up for Switch 2. These games are perfect for handheld play.

In no particular order: Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave (it will probably be my GoTY), Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, Mortal Shell 2, and 007 First Light. The latter, along with Onimusha were good, but not great, so they are honorable mentions.

I’m still playing Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave on hard/classic mode. I just reached Part 2 in Cai’s path after 65-hours. My renown is completely maxed out, I’ve completed every side quest and Paralogue missions, unlocked a handful of specialty classes for my characters, and unfortunately lost some people I cared about. This game is an all-timer for me, and I won’t hesitate to call it a masterpiece.

This is cool and great news. I know Mafia 3 isn’t the best out of the bunch, but I liked it for what it is. I wouldn’t mind replaying it, and this is a perfect incentive to jump back in.

I was 30 hours deep in Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave when I decided to start completely over from scratch. I wasn’t getting the most out of my experience by juggling each of the four characters by chapters—instead, I am now playing the game with one character only.

I am currently playing on hard classic mode, and decided to go with Cai. I am in his 7th chapter. It’s been amazing so far. The story is ramping up, I’ve got a solid understanding of the mechanics that are being drip fed, and I have developed a good routine during free time.

Additionally, skirmishes and battles are starting to get time consuming in a positive way. I’m actively thinking about my decisions. There might be times where I spend 30-45 minutes in a singular battle because I don’t want anyone to die, and I have to strategically move my units in the correct position. I love the grind.

I’m also playing the campaign for Gears of War E-Day. I’ve completed Act 1 and it was phenomenal. Honestly, it’s one of the best openings I’ve played in a game before. It felt like a mix between Resident Evil and The Last of Us, and had the perfect balance between horror and action.

@badboidre You can have your opinion. If you think the game is mediocre then that’s your prerogative. Have you played through the campaign yet in its entirety? Additionally, I’m not saying your opinion is invalid — I’m saying that reviews across the board are great for this game, and that should be celebrated regardless even if you dislike it.

@badboidre No offense, but I think you’re just complaining to complain. Why not celebrate games when they are a success, rather than negatively talk about it? If you’re a gamer you should be happy to see a game do well. Sorry, I just don’t understand your train of thought.

@badboidre Well I’m mainly playing for the campaign, so if you’re comparing that to COD I think I’ll be happy.

I can’t wait! It’s a bummer chainsaw duels aren’t here, but that will come.

Unicorn Overlord is one of my all time favorite games — have the platinum for it too. I’ll definitely keep an eye on this game.

It’s all about Control: Resonant this weekend for me!

This will be the first time I think layoffs and reorganization is going to be beneficial in this case. It helps cut budgets whilst not actually canceling projects outright. My only fear is Halo being under Activision; I don’t know if that will be a good umbrella Halo is under. Regardless, I think Asha is playing her cards right.

I’ll be checking it out later today; it looks excellent.

The first Gears trailer is iconic. I remember going to the public library because we didn’t have high speed internet at my house at the time. I don’t know how many times I watched that trailer, and ogling all over the screenshots—my mind was blown. With all of that said, Gears of War 2 is easily my favorite in the entire franchise.

I beat Cronos: The New Dawn and I thought it was excellent. I took my time, too, clocking in approximately 30-hours to complete on Xbox Series X. I managed to unlock most achievements during my first run—finding all cats, comic books, and travel logs. I am now a third of the way through on my NG+ Hard mode attempt to mop up the remaining achievements for a 100% completion.

I’m now starting Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave. I’ve wrapped up the prologue and decided to start as Dietrich. I’m in Part 1; chapter 4, and his story has been great.

There are two issues I have with the game. First is the character models—some of them are hideous and really oddly designed, such as Fabio’s eyes and Baozi’s smile. The second is the lip syncing with the dialogue. It doesn’t match what the characters are saying.

Aside from that, in my opinion, Fortune’s Weave is already a better game than Engage—a game that left me immensely disappointed. Fortunately, no pun intended, this new entry could be on the same level as Awakening and Three Houses.

I can’t wait for this. I fully expected it to be a great game and it turns out it is.

I had to pick up Dying Light just on principle alone. It is so cheap and such a good game.

I have completed Onimusha: Way of the Sword on Xbox Series X. I got every achievement you can get on a single run — max upgraded all equipment, abilities, found every weapon, and did every side quest. It took me approximately 35-hours.

My opinion is mixed. Maybe it’s because my play style forces me to do everything I possibly can in my first playthrough, and then do NG+ after if I’m not feeling burned out. With that said, Onimusha WotS is a perfect 12-hour game, but a bad 35-hour game. I think this game will benefit from a NG+ so you can trim the fat.

I’ll probably do a NG+ run sometime down the line. I wouldn’t mind mopping up the achievements. I’m going to set it to the side for now and since it’s getting closer to spooky season, I have finally decided to boot up Cronos The New Dawn. It’s fantastic so far.

Why is everyone suddenly against Asha? She has been doing great things for the brand, so what minor grievance has she committed to have this sudden turn of events?

I completed Mortal Shell 2 and I’m halfway through NG+ but putting that on pause for the moment. I am now playing Onimusha: Way of the Sword and it’s awesome. The combat is great, the story is compelling, Musashi is a genuinely funny character with emotional depth, and the game is pure fun reminiscent of the early 2000s. I’ve defeated two of the bosses so far and I can’t wait to play more when I get the free time. Capcom once again delivers another banger.

@Fiendish-Beaver Yeah, those pickaxe guys are way too OP. They are the bane of my existence.

I’m wrapping up my playthrough of Mortal Shell 2 on Xbox Series X. I’m three achievements away from 100%’ing the game, but I’ll wrap those up during a NG+ later down the road when there aren’t so many good games out. It’s been a fantastic experience, and it’s definitely worth the money.

Sounds awesome! There are so many games out right now. I’m making my way through Mortal Shell 2, close to the end, and tomorrow this game comes out along with Star Wars Zero Company which I preordered. In a week or two Onimusha and Blood of the Dawnwalker almost back to back. Good god.

No Law is the game of the show for me. It looks awesome.

@Fiendish-Beaver Same here! I’ve now progressed quite a bit. I beat the “first” main boss, level 15, unlocked a handful of new weapons, and finally traversing the area where we initially went first. It’s been awesome so far!

How is Gotham Knights for those who have played it? I own it, but I just never get the urge to play.

@Fiendish-Beaver Haha, did you go straight once you got into the explorable world, or did you go behind you? I went forward and realized that wasn’t the ideal way to start.

I’m playing Mortal Shell 2 on Xbox. The first couple of hours can be absolutely brutal, especially if you go to the more difficult areas unintentionally as I did. However, once you can get past that initial hump, the game is awesome. It’s up there with Lies of P for me.

Number 1 and 5 are a godsend for me. I can’t wait for this to release for everyone.

@Nic-Noc20th-C Ohhh, Gears Tactics 2 is a solid guess. It would make sense, too.

@ZombiesEveryWhere I would lose my freaking mind if that was the game. The first one is one of my all time favorite games. I still remember being shocked in came with 4 discs.

I know it’s not going to be this, but I would love if it was announced that Trails in the Sky chapter 2 would be the “sequel” coming, and perhaps add the first game to the console and even Game Pass to heighten the excitement. I think those games should desperately be on Xbox, but that is a pipe dream at this point.

After not playing games for two months and some change, I decided to play this because I was feeling nostalgic. I have gotta say that it’s been a blast and really reminds me of some very fond memories playing this game religiously with my best friend during summer break, co-oping the campaign dozens upon dozens of times.

It looks cool. I might check it out.

I’m pretty hooked on Final Fantasy XIV on the Switch 2 at the moment. I’m not that far, but have completed numerous side quests and dungeons. I’m currently a level 22 archer and a level 20 lancer.

I’m also slowly going through Halo Campaign Evolved on the Xbox Series X. It’s been fun so far, and a really huge nostalgia boost.

I’m finally playing games again, but still not as much as I used to. I’ve taken a massive step back because it was consuming too much of my life, free time, and mind. That said, I did buy Final Fantasy XIV for Switch 2. It’s my first MMO since RuneScape in the 90s (no joke), so I’m overwhelmed, but I like it so far. It’s even better than I can play this type of game on handheld - one of the main reasons why I purchased it to begin with.

@Z1G Aside from owning the Series X, I have a Switch 2 and PS5, so I think those two consoles should keep me plenty busy.

I think I’m officially done with Xbox and its brand. I just can’t anymore.

Last Sunday I got the platinum for 007 First Light. While I [patiently] waited for The Adventures of Elliot to release, I was hankering for an RPG to play. I decided to replay The Witcher 3 for the fifth time, this instance being on Nintendo Switch 2.

I want to apologize to Elliot — you’re going to have to wait much longer to be played. I’m once again absorbed into this brutal, yet gorgeous Continent. Being able to take this adventure on the go is a godsend, and feels tailor made for that type of experience.

It’s also much better than I remembered; it ages like fine wine. There isn’t much more that can be said about this game that hasn’t been said before over the last 13 years. The writing is top notch, the characters are compelling, the main and side missions are some of the most in-depth, multilayered quests I’ve ever experienced, and exploration is consistently rewarding.

In short, this game is a bonafide masterpiece in every facet. Thirteen years later it still stands above most games today. Before Red Dead Redemption 2 and Elden Ring there was The Witcher 3. And thank God for that.

Just when I thought the XBOX brand was coming back with a more focused attitude, and getting players involved in the ecosystem again, they always manage to have negative impacts weekly. I understand Asha said that things are going to be rough, and tons of changes/sacrifices are going to be made, but this is still incredibly brutal. I wish XBOX the best, but I don’t think they know what they are doing or even should be doing. They are throwing crap to the wall and hoping it sticks.

I’m working on finishing up the platinum for 007 First Light.

I understand the sentiment people are sharing about a lack of transparency with console exclusives, particularly the games that have been chosen. Some of these games have been known to Sony for a while, and I’m sure contracts have been signed for cross platforming. It sucks that Halo and Forza aren’t exclusive, but Asha can’t undo Phil’s decisions in that short of a time; the deal has already been done. However, I think this decision might get people back into the brand IF Gears and Clockwork turn out to be the excellent games (I believe they will). In my opinion, this is a start to making XBOX relevant again in the console space. Asha has done a great job so far, and I’m sure there will be more plans in the future to shape the brand back to what the 360 generation brought.

@Tasuki I understand your perspective, but given the few months Asha has been in charge, I think she has done an excellent job at getting people interested in XBOX again. Will it work down the road/long term; I don’t know. But at least she has done more positive things for the brand than Phil in the last few years. Gotta give props sometime, regardless of what console you prefer.

@Nicekix And the fact that you think I’m somehow a fanboy of Xbox because I’m a little critical of Sony is mind blowing. You make an assumption based on a single paragraph, and then refuse to listen to what I say. People can be critical of something and still like it at the same time.

@Nicekix So I can’t criticize Sony even though it’s my main platform of choice? And yes, I did buy Astro Bot. I thought it was an excellent game. You’re being a fanboy despite me preferring Sony over Microsoft. Regardless of what you say, they have had the same type of games. Spider-Man 1&2 (I got the plat for those and enjoyed it), both God of War games (I have the platinum for both), both Horizon games (have the platinum for both), Returnal and Saros, Ghost of Tsushima and Yotei (I have the platinum for both), Rise of the Ronin (I have the platinum for that too), and so forth. Would I like some variety other than third person action adventure games? Absolutely. Although unlikely, but a FPS would be nice again - Killzone and/or Resistance. How about the exclusive Detroit Become Human? Hell, I even enjoyed Concrete Geenie. Even more so, The Last of Us from 2013 is my favorite game of all time, and nothing has come close to dethroning it for me personally. Learn to accept criticism.

@Nicekix What exactly is your issue because it doesn’t make sense. Are you bothered by the idea that I’m burned out by the Sony formula, but I still play the games because they are good? Do you think I’m a hater of Sony? If so, I can show you my trophies and platinums, and how frequently I play.

Do you think I’m some weird Xbox fanboy? If so, check my comment history. I like video games; I don’t care what console it’s on. I play on my Switch 2 regularly. I’m really not sure what your problem is?

@Nicekix First of all, I said that Sony first party games are becoming more of the same, not that they aren’t good games. They will more than likely be good and I’ll play them because I like good games. All I’m saying is that they don’t have that awe factor that they once did in the PS3 era, or early PS4.

As for Xbox, I do purchase their games. I preordered them the special edition of Starfield, bought Forza 5 & 6, Halo Infinite, DOOM The Datk Ages, and Hellblade 2, even if they are on Game Pass. I spend quite a bit of money on the Xbox.

Anything else snarky you want to say?

I finally got 100% in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. It was excellent and immersive. The Riddler and Cluemaster puzzles were a grind. I’m glad the game is over. That said, it has gotten me back into the world of comics, and now I’m reading several Batman stories.

I also finished Mina the Hollower. After some reflection, I consider it better than Shovel Knight which is no easy task. It’s easily one of the most charming Zelda-likes I’ve ever played. The amount of secrets to uncover, from hidden bosses, new locations, additional weapons, trinkets and more, each frame features something unique if you pay attention.

The comparison to Bloodborne is hard to understand. If it’s referring to difficulty, then maybe there is an argument for that. However, if we are going to compare it to a FromSoft game then I think Elden Ring is the appropriate choice. There are several subtle nods and (secrets?) moments in Mina that are reminiscent of various secrets in ER.

And now, according to the developers, many people are missing out on approximately 50% of the game. I have an item that tracks your collectibles per location, but I’m really intrigued if there is even more to unearth if you experiment.

I now have 007 First Light on the docket, but I’m not entirely in the mood to play it at the moment. In the same vein, however, I downloaded Hitman: Blood Money on the Nintendo Switch 2. It’s one of the rare games in the franchise that I haven’t played. I’m not very far, but what I’ve played has been fun, albeit archaic in its mechanics. Nonetheless, that’s sort of to be expected. And with the announcement of the original trilogy being remastered, I’m even more enthralled to be immersed in this world of Agent 47.

This is really cool news. I’ve ironically just started Blood Money earlier today.